The saying, ‘You can take the boy out of the country but you can never take the country out of the boy’, is certainly applicable to me. I loved growing up in Kingaroy, country Queensland and to this day still enjoy getting outside to adventure in Australia’s countryside or going home to our family property which is full of rich, wonderful memories.
I am extremely proud of what I personally achieved as a professional cricketer but at the centre of my life is my family.
I am passionate about building a legacy beyond the famous sporting grounds of the world and replace my 20 year mantra of ‘watch the ball’ with ‘doing, sharing, being’. Focusing on projects which continue to inspire me as much as cricket but on different fields; media businesses, public speaking & humanitarian endeavours.
The Hayden Way
My company The Hayden Way was set up as a personal management company in 2009 after my retirement from International Cricket. Created to assist me find a work life balance centred on family, community, social responsibility and sustainability. I certainly subscribe to the theory of ‘making your vocation your vacation’ and The Hayden Way in collaboration with my partners brings to life my passions: family, food, adventure and of course cricket.
Cricketer
My cricketing career began at an early age. Very early, in fact! On our homemade turf pitch on our family farm, many a highly competitive pretend ‘Test Match’ was played. It was there my infatuation with this great game began (age 3), pads covering my entire body & facing off against my brother (aged 8)! These closely contested #homeground battles soon progressed to club based competitions and it wasn’t long before the powers to be advanced me through Junior Cricket ranks making the transformation from backyard to Baggy Green at the tender age of just 21.
The best feeling in life is achieving something you never thought was possible and the realization of those childhood ‘Test Matches’ becoming a reality has been a constant source of inspiration in my life. Find out more about my cricketing career here.
Ambassador
It is a privilege to be an Ambassador for the Global Public School of Kerala in India, Co-Patron of Ronald McDonalds House, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia & Co-Patron of The Champagnat Trust and initiative of my old school Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane. I am very proud The Hayden Way also takes lead on community initiatives and continues to drive our partnership with the beautiful people of Tiwi Islands www.tiwigarden.com on going for the past 8 years along with continuing to encourage my commercial partners to actively participate in community driven initiatives.
On 26 January 2010 I was honoured to have been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to cricket and to the community through support for a range of health, youth and charitable organisations. In 2009 I was honoured and named a #QueenslandGreat & in 2014 inducted as a member of the #QueenslandSportsHallofFame. Both national and state honours make me feel so proud to be an Australian and a Queenslander especially as these accolades celebrated my contribution to Australian society.
I extended my professional playing career for an additional 4 seasons by continuing to play in the T20 Cricket competitions; 3 seasons for the launch of the inaugural #IPL for @ChennaiSuperKings. In 2011 I revoted my position on the Queensland and Australian Cricket Boards to support, launch and play for the @BrisbaneHeat in the inaugural Australian #BigBashLeague.
Media Savvy
It was at this time, I began to appreciate the shifting paradigm of the media and entertainment landscape. The way branded media properties like Bollywood and Sport could collide as they did in the 2008 IPL. The way these traditional broadcasters were forced to collaborate with the coming of age of the Digital and Social Media Assets and how talent brands could integrate with and help amplify mainstream broadcast through enrichment of experience for its customers and clients.
Born from this thinking was my company Storyline.
Storyline is about building strong narratives that encourage meaningful, long-term connections and interrelationships right through the line, from brand through to the customer and back again. It is all about how we can help the client to better tell their brand story and turn their customers into strong and loyal brand advocates.
I currently reside in Brisbane in the beautiful state of Queensland with my wife Kellie, daughter Grace, and sons Joshua & Thomas. I endeavour to inspire people to live a more self-sufficient, sustainable and enriched lifestyle through The Hayden Way and Storyline.
Profile of Matt
Boyhood life for me was an absolute dream! Filled with everything this boy would ever want – a loving family, good food, plenty of space to roam, fun, adventure – ranging from walking, swimming, surfing, cycling, camping, boating, fishing, shooting, skiing, scuba diving, kayaking, basically sport of every kind. The home-made turf cricket pitch, complete with cement roller and wire-netting surrounds, took pride of place on our farm and was always the location of many passionate, competitive innings after school.
Ever since I can remember, I recall being the “little brother” trailing like an excited puppy in the footsteps of my “big brother”, Gary, and amid all our other activities, driving kilometres for Gary’s representative country, and state cricket locations with my dad; being bowled to by the “big boys” and my uncles who, not only gave me “tips” but, I suspect, were also gainfully employed by my mum to keep me at a “safe distance from that hard cricket ball.”
Little did I realise my boyhood fascination with that ball and my incredible, competitive, passionate, loving, enjoyable “boot-camp”- upbringing would take me on the roller-coaster of my life. Enable me to dream the impossible and reach the unreachable – Opening batsman for the Australian Cricket team. Yes! I dared to think big, dream big and go for it.
